"jimmy fallon" happening right [ cheers and applause ] this morning on "early today" happy birthday america. across the country fireworks light up the skies in honor of our nation's independence. waiting for a verdict. jurors begin deliberating in the casey anthony murder trial. and a not so great escape. a unique break-out attempt by a prisoner in mexico. captions paid for by nbc-universal television hello, and good morning. i'm lynn berry. we begin with a day to remember. from coast-to-coast americans

celebrated a traditional independence day this year from fourth of july picnics and parades to incredible pyrotechnics displays. >> reporter: dazzling fireworks light up the sky in the nation's capital. president obama and the first lady took time on our country's birthday to thank members of the u.s. military. >> together you are standing with all of those around the world who are reaching for the same freedoms and the same liberties that we celebrate today. >> reporter: it was a day of celebration from star-spangled parades in new hampshire to power boat racing in florida. 60,000 runners saw the dawn's early light in atlanta for a 10k race. coney island, the home of the hot dog eating contest, and in california wubl snow skiing at lake tahoe on july 4th.

>> snow, skis, bathing suits. >> reporter: a day of fun and a celebration of freedom from sea to shining sea. curt gregory, nbc news. well, there were no fourth of july celebrations in an orlando courtroom yesterday as jurors in the first degree murder trial of casey anthony began deliberating her fate. >> reporter: as the jury gathered dozens gathered at the site where caylee anthony's remains were found. two responses. >> they are going to consider second degree murder, a manslaughter, third degree felony murder, and two types of first degree murder, by the way, premeditated and felony murder, and they don't even have to agree on which one it is, as long as 12 people think it's first degree murder, and there are six other counts.

it is complicated. >> reporter: after waiting through the judge's instructions and waiting for around six hours, the jury will get back to work today reviewing testimony of dozens of witnesses and almost 400 items entered as evidence, and with the emotiona closing arguments likely still echoing in their minds. >> the key question as it relates to all manslaughter child abuse and murder charges that you're going to be presented with is how did she die? what happened to her? what is proven beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt? not just some, but every single one. and those questions were never answered. that evidence was never presented to you. >> to say that there is no evidence to connect casey anthony to caylee's death ignores. >> reporter: jay gray, nbc news, orlando. executives at exxonmobil

have acknowledged that an oil spill in the yellowstone area could have spread further than previously thought. exxonmobil's president vowed to do whatever is necessary to clean up tens of thousands of gallons of spilled crude. earlier the country had downplayed estimates the oil had spread over dozens of miles in the famed waterway, insisting only a ten-mile area had been contaminated. now here's a look at other stories making news early today in america. a pennsylvania collector displayed a rare copy of the declaration of independence that he bought at a flea market for $100. a curator determined it is one of the group of the 19th century copies, the making of which actually damaged the original document. its wooden frame was made from beams from independence hall. a group of california chefs thinks they added sizzle to the guinness world record books with their creation of a super sized

burger. the ten-person crew cooked the sandwich on a mammoth grill, flipping the patty once every hour with the bun and all the fixings. the burger weighed 177 pounds, close to 200 pounds more than the current record holder. also in northern california, getting a little closer look at what we just showed you. summer looked a lot like winter there. a flood of bikini tops and bathing suit wearing skiers hit the slopes on independence day. the extended ski season is the result of record breaking snowfall that has turned many lake tahoe area resorts a paradise. i don't know if that's paradise. now for a look at your national and regional weather here's bill karins. good morning. >> i told my dad to put a t-shirt on. >> they never listen. scary there in some parts, but all in good fun. >> good morning, lynn. i hope everyone had a wonderful and safe fourth of july. it was hot around the country. no doubt about that.

temperatures were really warm. we were in the 90s in many locations. if it weren't in the 9 0z, you were at least in the 80s. the only chilly air out there was the pacific northwest. 78 in seattle. 90 in boston. 86 in new york. as far as bad weather went out there, showers and thunderstorms were wide spraid spread over the dakotas and going down into minnesota. that's where we saw the worst of it. also hot conditions in texas, and that's nothing that has changed. this morning the only travel trouble we've had was in the northern plains. minneapolis, st. cloud, we have rain heading down to the south along the front. aberdeen and watertown, south dakota, we have pretty good thunderstorms with downpours also. forecasts for today, more showers and storms around minneapolis with that front. even denver could get storms today, and also the southeast. that's your typical afternoon. that's a look at your tuesday forecast. now here's the weather outside your window. some areas are going to be pretty hot today, but the humidity is pretty low from the ohio valley up through new england. even though it's 90 degrees in

new york, it will be not as humid, so it won't be too bad. 89 in charlotte with a chance of storms. overall, the heat continues to be the story. nothing too bad out there. >> bill, thanks so much. well, back to work on wall street. the next possible distraction for traders, and how is business going at the vatican? your early morning business headlines are straight ahead. why in the wake of the break-up of her marriage maria shriver may be looking at a world record payday. the captain is back. two bizarre walk-offs, and you think you ate a lot of hot dogs yesterday? think again. you are watching "early today."

good morning, and welcome back to "early today." i'm lynn berry, and here are some of your top headlines this morning. former imf chief dominique strauss-kahn is facing new

sexual assault charges. if she files charges, he plans to respond with a slander complaint. he is already facing a sexual assault case in new york, although that case has been jeopardized by questions about the accuser. in mexico officials are searching for seven missing american tourists whose boat capsized during stormy weather. one american has been confirmed dead. 19 other tourists and 16 crewmember were rescued. yesterday in canada prince william and wife kate took parted in a drag boat race while on their first official overseas trip since the wedding. the prince also piloted a helicopter during a military emergency training exercise. in mexico, yes, you are seeing this correctly. police say a woman was caught trying to sneak her common law husband out of a prison in a suitcase. the unusual break-out attempt came after a congigal visit.

she was arrested. now here is an early look at your top health hmz. when it comes to chips and fries, if you can't eat just one, researchers now think they know why. fatty foods industryinger the production of chemicals much like those found in marijuana. unlike proteins and sugars, fat releases those marijuana-like chemicals during a cascade that signals to the braen and body all pushing the same message eat, eat, and eat some more. for more information on this and other health stories, check out the health page at msnbc.com. now here's an early look at how wall street will kick off the day. the dow opens at 12,582 after gaining 168 points on friday. the s&p added 19 points. the nasdaq rose 42. taking a look at overseas trading this morning. in tokyo the nikkei was up seven points, but in hong kong the hang seng lost 22.

expect light to mid summer volume this week on wall street where the markets will resume business on five-day winning streak. many traders will be vacationing, but working investors seeking incentive need look no further than monday's market results around the rest of the world. on the strength of last week's big wall street rally, world markets hit a four and a half week high on monday led by shanghai. the dollar was broadly steady against most major currencies. the price of crude remains steady at around $95 a barrel, and improved appetite for risk in stocks and the end of the fed's bond buying program has reduced demand for bonds with yields on ten-year notes settling near their highest point in almost two months. after climbing to its highest point nearly a month the euro tumbled monday after a warning monday from standard & poor's that greece would likely be in default if it follows a

rollover plan by french banks. many on wall street are starting to focus on debt ceiling negotiations in washington as a possible market distraction that could take the wind out of the current rally's sails. the longest negotiations stretch, the higher the uncertainty among traders and the higher potential for market volatility. data for the week starts off later this morning with factory orders. and, finally, good news and bad news for the pope. the vatican returned to a profit last year after three years in the red. however, donations from the faithful fell by nearly $15 million, or 18%. well, two losses in baseball that no doubt kept their respective losing managers gritting their teeth all night, and derek jeter returns. plus, it's become the fourth of july athletic competition. the coney island hot dog eating contest. your early morning sports headlines are straight ahead. and the hot weather continues around the country. if you are lucky, you'll get afternoon showers to cool you

off. your forecast is coming up. you're watching "early today."

good morning. if are you just waking up, this is "early today." in sports it's only appropriate that baseball's yankees welcome back their captain, healed from injury, on the fourth of july. here's nbc's bill seward with an

early look at all your sports headlines. very good morning to you. after a short stint on the dl, derek jeter resumed his pursuit of 3,000 hits. unfortunately, tlrm no fireworks for him in cleveland. jeter led things off against the indians. the slow roller booted by lottie. jeter safe at first, but it was ruled an error. it was 0-4 remains six hits shy of 3,000. austin kerns has been slumping all season. maybe this will snap him out of his funk. a three-run shot. indians went on to win 6-3. wild finish between the cubs and nats. tied at 4-4 in the tenth. jason werth comes home on the wild pitch. nationals win 5-4 in ten. from a wild pitch to a game-ending block, royals and white sox tied 4-4 in the ninth. aaron steps off the hill, and that's a walk. hate to lose like that. chicago won with a 5-4 balk-off.

the reds and blue jays. tracking it down, and you'll get nothing and like it. cardinals go on to win it 1-0. sfwlirchgts to florida the comebacker up the middle off manny ramirez's glove, and gets whirly at first. your average 6-4-3 out. not enough. phillies won 1-0. finally, get ready to rapid forced eating. the 96th annual nathan's hot dog eating contest at coney island. just an empty stomach and a large appetite. after ten minutes of inhaling dogs, joey chestnut is the wiener, down 6 2 dogs. the rest of the field couldn't cut the mustard. chestnut is the top dog winning his fifth straight title. i'm sure he will relish this moment for the rest of his life. that's your early look at sports on "early today." i'm bill seward. >> always tough to watch. a stunning divorce settlement, and which harry potter star has given up alcohol? your early morning entertainment

headlines are straight ahead. plus, the fourth is a time to remember our forefathers, but it's also a time to remember those who answered the call and those who still seek a home in the land of the free. you're watching "early today."

welcome back on this tuesday morning. here's a look at your forecast for today. warm in most cases. we are watching thunderstorms this morning through the dakotas

and also into minnesota. minneapolis, you're going to have a period of rain early today. later this afternoon down through the southeast you'll have scattered showers and storms kind of similar to yesterday. i think virginia and north carolina, though, you'll be a little bit better. then as tomorrow comes along, just very summer-like out there. scattered afternoon showers and storms. we're not going to see anyone getting completely drenched. still warm. look at new york. 92. if you are watching us on walb news 10 albany, georgia, see a rich tapestry of work illustrating the diversity and complexity of artists outside the mainstream at visionary folk at the albany museum of art. now here's an early look at this morning's headlines in entertainment. mel gibson hasn't done anything silgts subtle for the last few years, so why shut down his divorce be different? gibson settled with wife robin for a staggering $450 million. 21-year-old harry potter star daniel radcliffe says he

has given up drinking completely. he says he is love lucky pap ratsy never daut hip at his worst. david beckham and his wife may not be american, but the fourth of july is very important for to them. they got married on the 4th and a spokesman announced they will be waiting a bit longer to have their daughter. publishers are prepared to offer arnold schwarzenegger's soon to be ex, maria shriver, a record advance for a tell-all memoir. for a look into her life both as a kennedy and with the terminator, sources say shriver could earn more than the all-time record advance, bill clinton's $15 million. would you bet she would do it? do you think she would take it? >> not yet. no. she doesn't need the money. why spill all the secrets? >> especially when you have kids. they have four kids. >> he does it first, then all

bets are off. well, this comes to us from wvir nbc 29 in charlottesville, virginia, where some end penicillin day celebrations had nothing to do with fireworks or barbecues. dozens of immigrants made the trek to thomas jefferson's home to mark america's 235th birthday and become u.s. citizens. 77 people from 44 different countries were sworn in at the annual naturalization ceremony, making them america's newest citizens and a welcome addition. always great to see that on the fourth of july. you think of traditional fireworks and everything like that, but that's always a good way to remember what it's all about. >> i always like to see regular americans take the test and see how many of those questions they -- >> that we're not going to do here this morning. we are not going to do that here this morning. i'm lynn berry, and this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station.

right now back to work after a night full of oohs and aahs in the nation's capital. >> that was last night. this is this morning, very early this morning, skies are clear of fireworks this morning. we'll find out about the weather in just a minute. good morning. i'm joe krebs. >> and i'm aaron gilchrist. eun yang has the day off. welcome to "news 4 today."

it's another successful celebration of the fourth of july here in washington. >> it's my birthday today, i'm 235 years old. i came down to party. >> reporter: and he had lots of people come to help him. tens of thousands descended on d.c. ♪ o say can you see >> reporter: first for a star-studded concert at the capitol. then the spectacular show in the sky. along with the sea of people watching in the shadow of the washington monument, millions watched on television, and some held viewing parties around the area, like this one in dupont circle. it's a bona fide american tradition, the concert and fireworks. the kareem family made the drive from chicago. >> i lived in washington ten years ago. just wanted to come back and see it again. >> reporter: for this family from west virginia, it was an all day affair. >> we pack up coolers and food. we've got a tent, which we might need to